Nvidia employees are reportedly urging the company to bring back Jensen Huang, even as the former chief executive faces mounting scrutiny over reports of multiple extramarital relationships and his sudden departure from the chipmaker.
According to a Wired report, Nvidia’s internal suggestion box received around 1,600 comments even before Huang’s resignation, with several employees appealing to the board to find a way to reinstate him. Some workers have argued that his contributions to the company should outweigh the controversies surrounding his personal life.
READ: Nvidia names Colette Kress interim CEO after Jensen Huang resigns (November 12, 2026)
“If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss,” one anonymous employee reportedly wrote.
Another employee defended Huang, saying, “We are all humans and can make mistakes. Jensen did so many good things, and he needs a second chance.”
The support has reportedly extended beyond the company’s internal channels. Around two dozen Nvidia employees have expressed their backing for Huang on LinkedIn, while another employee reportedly sent a companywide email seeking greater transparency about the circumstances surrounding his exit, Business Today reported.
The calls for Huang’s return come after a series of reports about his alleged relationships with women connected to Nvidia. The company’s board had announced an investigation into Huang’s relationship with a woman whom U.S. officials had concluded was a Chinese spy, although it maintained confidence in his leadership.
The situation became more complicated late Wednesday when reports emerged of another alleged affair, this time involving an Nvidia employee who reportedly worked under Huang. Reuters reported that Huang had an intimate relationship with a second employee, citing people familiar with the matter.
On Thursday, Nvidia announced that Huang had stepped down as president, CEO and board member, without providing a reason for his departure. The company appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO and named director Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever board chair.
While Nvidia has confirmed that it is considering both internal and external candidates for the permanent CEO position, the company has not indicated whether Huang could return in an advisory capacity or take up another role.
The decision ultimately rests with Nvidia’s board. Having resigned from his board seat, Huang no longer has a direct position in the group responsible for determining the company’s leadership and future. Any return would therefore require the backing of the very directors who announced his departure.
Although unusual, a company’s employees pushing for the return of a departing chief executive is not without precedent. One of the most prominent examples is OpenAI, where the board dismissed Sam Altman in November 2023.
Altman’s removal triggered an extraordinary employee backlash. Nearly all of OpenAI’s approximately 770 employees signed a letter threatening to leave unless the board resigned and Altman was reinstated.
The situation escalated further after Microsoft offered to hire Altman and any employees who chose to follow him. Within days, OpenAI agreed to bring Altman back under a reconstituted board.
READ: Nvidia hires top law firm to investigate Jensen Huang’s alleged ties to Chinese businesswoman (November 11, 2026)
However, there is an important distinction between the two cases. Altman was fired by OpenAI’s board, prompting employees to threaten a mass departure. Huang, on the other hand, has been described by Nvidia as having resigned, while employees are now asking the company to reverse that decision.
At 63, Huang remains one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, with Forbes estimating his personal fortune at more than $150 billion. He is also Nvidia’s largest individual shareholder, giving him a substantial financial stake in the company even after relinquishing his executive and board positions.
Whether the growing employee support will influence Nvidia’s board remains to be seen. For now, the company has made clear that its search for a permanent CEO will consider candidates from both within and outside the organization.